Open Access

Bernd Peter Schweiss, Hartmut Fueß, Gerhard Fecher, Alarich Weiss

• The order-disorder phase transition which occurs at Tc = 296.9 K in anilinium bromide, C6H5NH3Br, is studied by inelastic neutron time-of-flight measurements. Data are taken from hydrogenated and partially deuterated samples (C6D5NH3Br and C6H5ND3Br) below and above the transition temperature. From the inelastic scattering data the phonon frequency distribution in the range of the intermolecular vibrations is calculated. The assignment of bands is given and changes in the spectra with temperature are discussed. The analysis of the quasielastic line revealed substantial broadening due to rotational diffusion of the -NH3⊕ group. These jump diffusion processes were observed in the orthorhombic high temperature and - with markedly diminished rate - in the monoclinic phase below Tc. From the correlation times at different temperatures the activation energies are estimated for both phases. Comparison with calculated elastic incoherent structure factors suggests jumps of 60° for hindered rotation.